Pearl Grace Parker

Chapter Nine

Several Months Later

It's May 14, 1930. I hear Mary come around the corner saying, "Today's the day!" I smile and say, "Yes, today I marry the man of my dreams." I look over at Mary and my other bridesmaids. I say to Betty who is doing my hair and makeup like usual, "How are the kids?" She responds, "Good thanks to you and your father." I smile and let her finish my hair. Then she spins me around and starts doing my makeup. Once she finishes it has been an hour later. Now she quickly does the other girls' makeup and hair as I look in the mirror. My hair that I am growing out again is up in an elegant updo. My makeup is natural looking. I smile and I say, "Thank you Betty. Mary, would you help me put my wedding dress on?" She helps me put on my slimming white lace wedding dress that has off the shoulders straps. I feel myself start to glow as everything starts to fall into place. I slip on my white lace shoes and let my father come into the room. He grabs my veil and slides it in my hair while saying, "You look beautiful, my dear Pearl." I say, "Thank you, Father." I feel myself getting a little nervous as it gets closer and closer to 2 P.M. I watch everyone get ready. Mary and I take a few pictures before we have the picture session. Everyone is ready now. I look at the pretty red dresses I picked out for the bridesmaids. Mary brings me my red bouquet and starts tearing up. I say, "Oh Betty, I'm not dying." She laughs a little and then goes down to sit in the pews. This is it. I take a deep breath and look at the clock. It's three minutes to two. My father walks up to me and holds out his arm. I smile as he says, "You'll do wonderful, my little Pearl." We walked down the hallway to the sanctuary. I hear the music and watch my friends go through the doors before me. One by one. Now it's my turn. I take a big breath and let my father lead me into the sanctuary that is decorated with white lace and red roses. I look up the aisle and smile as I see Oliver's look. He looks astonished. I look down as I blush. We get to the end of the pews and my father pulls my veil back and kisses my cheek while he hands me off to Oliver. I look up at Oliver as he turns me to the altar. He whispers, "You look ravishing, my love." I smile at him. The ceremony goes through fast and before I know it. I am Mrs. Pearl Grace Faye. We kiss and walk down the aisle and out the door. We stand around and let people congratulate us and take pictures. People kept telling me I was glowing.

Now that our pictures are done, we drive to my father's house to have our dinner. We serve steak and baked potatoes. My Grandmother comes over and gives me a hug. She says, "Oh dear Pearl, you look wonderful and this must be the man who won our dear Pearl's heart." Oliver looks over at my grandmother and says, "It's good to meet you." He shakes her hand and my grandmother turns back to me. She hands me a box and I open it in front of her. I pulled out two tickets. I smile as I read where the destination is. I say, "Oliver, you're going to want to look at this." He turns from what he was doing and looks at the tickets. He says, "London?" I say as I hug my grandmother, "Oh thank you." She smiles and says, "Have fun over there. It is beautiful. Make sure you tour everywhere. I set up your entire trip. You will be staying at an ancient castle." She squeals and I giggle as she leaves us. I turn to Oliver who says, "Your grandmother is quite the surprising woman." I laugh and say, "Yeah, she's great." I feel someone tap down low on my skirt. I look down to see a small little girl. She looks about three. She says to me, "Hi, sissy." Something changes inside me. I almost feel sad for her. I hear my mother's voice as she says, "Helen, you are not supposed to run off." No way. I look up to see my mother and two boys behind her. I say, "Hello, mother." She looks up and says, "I'm sorry, Pearl. I just wanted to see your wedding day." I sigh and say, "Don't worry about it. Are these your new children?" She nods and I say, "Could I speak to you in private." She nods and we walk around the corner to the library. I sit down on the couch and say, "What are their names? And where is Mae?" My mother sits down beside me and says, "George is nine, William is six and little Helen is two." I say, "And Mae?" She looks down and holds her hands like she is trying to keep it together. She says, "Um, Mae passed away in 1919. She was four. She passed away because of the flu outbreak." I look down and say, "I'm sorry." She looks at me and I finally see the toll the years have taken on her. It hasn't been easy. I say, "Life hasn't been easy for you has it?" She looks down and shakes her head. "Has my father helped you at all?" I ask her. She then nods her head. I say, "Good." I stand up and she says, "What?" I turn to her and say, "Just because I am not the biggest fan of you. Doesn't mean I don't care for my siblings. I did love Mae. No matter if you believe me or not. So I choose to not let my other siblings, I didn't know of, suffer." She stares at me and says, "You have grown into such a lady." I say, "Thank you." I walk over to the door and say before I leave, "You can stay for the party. I would like to see a little bit more of my half-siblings." She winces a little at the word I called her children but it is the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts. I return back to the dinner and eat my food and talk to family members. I see William and Helen running around. I say, "William. Helen. Please don't run. You could run into someone." They look over at me and then they walk over. William says to me, "You know our names?" I nod and say, "Do you know my name?" They squeal a little and say, "Yes, you're Pearl Grace Parker. You're our older sister." I say, "Yes, that's me but my last name is Faye." They look up in confusion and I laugh. I say, "Ok, run along but watch out for people." They run along and Oliver comes over to me and says, "Are they your siblings?" I say, "I guess. I don't really know what happened. I looked at the youngest one, Helen, and it's almost like my heart hurt. I felt bad for her..." I gasp and say to Oliver, "I know why I feel so bad for them. Helen looks just like Mae." He looks at me and says, "Pearl it's ok to be family to them. They are looking up to you. Can we discuss this later tonight when we are on the boat to go to London?" I smile and say, "Yes, we can."